New USDA ‘climate-friendly’ farming and ranching practices have yet to be proven, report says

New USDA ‘climate-friendly’ farming and ranching practices have yet to be proven, report says

An environmental activist group charges that many “climate smart” farming practices recently added to a list for U.S. Department of Agriculture funding are not yet proven. The Environmental Working Group says funding from the Inflation Reduction Act should not be used to pay farmers for using the practices, until there is more evidence that they work.

217 Today: How Peoria’s used bookstores thrive in the digital age and build community

217 Today: How Peoria’s used bookstores thrive in the digital age and build community

Monday, March 4, 2024 Today’s headlines:  Reproductive rights advocates and Illinois lawmakers say a recent ruling from Alabama’s high court is an opportunity for the state to eliminate financial barriers to fertility treatments. Western Illinois University is in the market for a new president. Protesters gathered at Champaign’s West Side Park this weekend for a…

‘Genomics and Faith’ connects scientists and people of faith in C-U

‘Genomics and Faith’ connects scientists and people of faith in C-U

There’s a common misconception about science and faith: that the two cannot coexist. But one group in Champaign-Urbana is working to change that. Genomics for Faith aims to connect scientists and people of faith in the community. The program was created by the outreach team at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at…